[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 1]
[Senate]
[Page 873]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      NATIONAL SCHOOL CHOICE WEEK

  Mr. COTTON. Mr. President, as National School Choice Week came to a 
close last week, I want to highlight the important role school choice 
plays in our education system in Arkansas and across the country.
  I am the proud graduate of Arkansas's public schools and the son of a 
public school teacher and principal. Throughout my life, I was blessed 
with wonderful parents, teachers, and coaches who taught the skills, 
knowledge, and values needed for success in the workforce. 
Unfortunately, not all children have the same experience.
  Dardanelle High School was the right choice for me, but the local 
public school isn't always the right fit for everyone. Too many 
children aren't receiving the attention or education they deserve. This 
is especially true in areas with poor performing schools. But it is not 
always about the quality of education; sometimes local schools cannot 
make adequate accommodations for a child's religious beliefs or 
personal needs. Quite simply, one size fits all isn't the key to 
success for education.
  That is why I believe in school choice.
  Parents--not politicians and bureaucrats--know what is best for their 
children. We should empower them and ensure they have access to 
alternatives to the traditional public system. This includes home 
schooling, charter schools, and private and religious schools. That 
way, every child will receive the type of education that best fits 
their learning style.
  To countless families across America, school choice means accessing 
the best possible education for their children. By providing school 
choice, we can promote innovation in our schools, provide more 
personalized education for our children, and improve racial and 
economic disparities in educational outcomes.
  I am pleased to have celebrated National School Choice Week and the 
improvements that school choice has brought to our country.

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